Clippers roll on, rout Bucks 111-85 for their ninth straight win

Matt Barnes scores 21 points, DeAndre Jordan has 15 points and 11 rebounds and L.A. improves to 17-6, the best start in franchise history.

MILWAUKEE — The Clippers are on such a roll right now that the nine teams they've defeated in the last 21/2 weeks seem like little more than bystanders.

The Milwaukee Bucks became their latest victims Saturday night, the Clippers winning handily, 111-85, at the Bradley Center.

Their nine-game winning streak is the second-longest in franchise history. The franchise record is 11 consecutive victories by the Buffalo Braves during the 1974-75 season.

The Clippers have won the first three games on a four-game trip, and they have scored at least 100 points in eight of the nine victories during the streak.

Oh, and their 17-6 start to the season is the best in franchise history.

"We're just trying to make sure we play the game the right way," point guard Chris Paul said. "We do understand that at some point we will lose a game. But as long as we play the right way and don't get too upset and start pointing fingers or anything like that, we'll be OK."

Three Clippers starters posted double-doubles Saturday, but it was reserve Matt Barnes who led the team in scoring, with a season-high 21 points on eight-for-10 shooting.

"I'm pleased with how we're finding different ways to win," Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro said. "We had a total team effort. But we have to have the mind-set of getting better."

The Clippers shared the basketball, recording 33 assists on 44 field goals.

Even Griffin and Jordan, big men who aren't known for their passing, got in on the share-the-ball act with nice passes on back-to-back sequences in the third quarter.

Griffin squeezed a shovel pass between two Bucks defenders, finding Jordan for a dunk. Then on the next possession, Jordan threw a bounce pass to Griffin for a dunk that brought the Clippers' bench to its collective feet and forced the Bucks to call yet another timeout.

"We really passed the ball well tonight to each other," said Jordan, who had two assists. "We had great buddy-ball in the post. If we can pass it like that to each other throughout the season, we'll be all right."

Injury update

The only worry the Clippers had was when Eric Bledsoe hit the court hard in the fourth quarter and removed himself from the game with 4:51 left. Bledsoe, who suffered an injury to his left hip, said he expects to play Monday night at Detroit.

"But I know that I'm going to be sore tomorrow," he said.

Chauncey Billups (tendinitis in his left foot) and Grant Hill (bone bruise in his right knee) are on this trip but haven't played, and neither is expected to play Monday when the trip ends in Auburn Hills, Mich.

Del Negro said Billups, who has missed six games, is listed as day-to-day.

Hill, on the other hand, has increased his work load, Del Negro said, but the small forward still doesn't have a timetable for his return.

"They are monitoring him every day and he said he's doing good," Del Negro said. "So, that's a good sign."